Capital Management Botswana (CMB) Director Tim Marsland was arrested in South Africa yesterday where he is awaiting repatriation to Botswana.
Marsland has been on Interpol – the international police organization – most-wanted list following a request from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) three months ago.
Sunday Standard has in its posession an Interpol Red Notice Form completed by the DCEC for Timothy Gordon Marsland who is cited as a “fugitive wanted for prosecution.”
The Notice form was a request for Interpol to post a “Red Notice” for Marsland’s arrest. According to the form Marsland faces a charge of Money Laundering under the Proceeds and Instrument of Crime Act (PICA) which carries a penalty of eight years imprisonment and another charge of Obtaining by False Pretence under the Penal Code which carries a maximum penalty of P20 million or 20 years imprisonment.
The offence summery is narrated thus: “Timothy Gordon Marsland and another fraudulently obtained P200 million from Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund. The money was then transferred to South Africa where it was used to purchase/build properties.”
According to Interpol, the “Red Notice” is not an international arrest warrant. It is an advisory and request, issued to 188 member countries “to assist the national police forces in identifying or locating those persons with a view to their arrest and extradition.”
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated recently that it was investigating money laundering charges against Marsland and his partner Rapula Okaile. The investigation arises from the controversial P500 million investment business from BPOPF.
The DPP last month wrote to Marsland and Okaile’s lawyers’ informing them that they have received a docket containing allegations and evidence of crimes having been committed by the two CMB directors. “However currently we are working on the premise and basis of what the investigators gathered. Please note that your client Timothy Marsland had not provided the Investigator his side of the story…”
In an article he wrote for a local newspaper masquerading as their correspondent Marsland claimed that the Sunday Standard sister publication, The Telegraph’s report that he was on Interpol wanted list was false.
In yet another falsehood…. an article appeared in a newspaper claiming that Marsland was on a red list of Interpol. The claim was completely false. Any journalist could have checked the validity of the claim with Interpol ÔÇô a process which takes roughly five minutes. Yet the newspaper published regardless. The question is why?”
Extradition proceedings against Marsland are expected to commence soon.
